Travel Hack: Bring an Outlet Splitter

Keeping your head on straight while traveling can be a challenge- especially if we’re talking about crossing state lines or international borders. There are flights to confirm, items to pack, and loose ends to tie up. The slew of electronics we carry along helps us to keep track of all the details, but, of course, they need juice.

As Matt points out, “Airports have become better in recent years about providing power outlets, but at peak times, there are never enough.” To ease the headache of recharging your electronics, follow his suggestion and carry an outlet splitter with you. It needn’t be huge: a small splitter or power strip with a couple of plugs will be enough to keep your laptop and phone charged. Spring for a model with built-in USB ports for easy charging of MP3 players and other smaller devices. The best part? If you haven’t taken all the outlets, you can create goodwill and lessen airport rage by helping out other travelers looking for a place to fill up their own batteries.

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4 Responses to "Travel Hack: Bring an Outlet Splitter"

I’m just wrapping up a one year, round-the-world trip, and I’ve used an ultra-slim, two-prong outlet expander every day I had power (and there were many days I did not!). Mine has a hinge/swivel so that it can fit flush against a wall when needed. Outside the US, rooms have far fewer outlets, are they are often in very inconvenient places. Definitely go for the smallest and lightest you can find, for example, this one from Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-69-W-15-Triple-Outlet-Adapter/dp/B000HJBENG

Or better yet, look at older/independent hardware stores to see if you can find the kind without the flange. The flange is there to prevent you from plugging a three-prong, grounded plug into a two-prong outlet. However, absolutely none of my travel electronics has a three-prong plug, so the weight and bulk are redundant. My adapter is smaller/slimmer than a deck of cards, and worth it’s tiny weight in gold.

If you’re going to splurge on an adapter with built-in USB slots, check how well your devices will charge on the amperage provided by that adapter. One of the Belkins pictured above is 2.1A, which is good for tablets. The other is not–you’ll barely be able to charge larger/thirstier devices with it.

There is a 6 outlet version of which I have two, in addition to a triple cube tap (with the ground pin removed). and a “monitor plug” to 3 pin jack http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OC579E which I’m using at this moment. The “megatouch” game is disabled while my laptop is recharging but no one seems to notice…

I ride a motorcycle, so saddlebag space is at a premium.

For USB, I have an Energi to go (Energizer, Xpal) lithium power pack that does the conversion, storage, and charging. Newegg has a 7kmAH USB charger on sale as I write this, but Xpal has (limitations apply) free tips.

I like to carry a small piggyback cord plus a splitter like suggested above – that way I don’t need to worry about clearances around the outlet and I don’t have to deprive my host of an outlet when I plug in my chargers, baby monitors, etc.